Despite drops in foreclosure activity, Illinois has the ninth highest foreclosure rate in the U.S. and starting this month it's likely to get worse. Over the holidays, many lenders put foreclosures on hold nationwide. But that temporary freeze is over now.

Cook County is paying out $55 million to people who were strip searched while being processed into the county jail. The settlement follows a trial from the summer of 2009 in which a jury found that the Cook County Sheriff's department violated the rights of thousands of prisoners admitted to th

The attack ads on TV have disappeared. Campaigns are wrapping up their operations. Pundits and columnists have already moved on to the next big thing. And political reporters like me have started catching up on their sleep.

With the intense general election for Cook County assessor, and – to a lesser extent – the one for board president, you’ve likely heard the arguments tossed around by each candidate on why they’re the better fit.